Why Not Editing Professionally Hurts the Writing Community

Oh, this post is going to make some people make today. But before my head is strapped to the guillotine, hear me out. One just may be surprised by what is presented.

First, let’s be clear. No one is trying to gatekeep. No one is saying a writer can’t do what he/she wants to do. And no one is perfect.

When selecting a book, many readers do not know if an author is traditionally published or self-published. If the content is good and the reader enjoys it, it doesn’t matter which it is. What the reader desires is a positive reading experience. They deserve that. Even if the book is free, they deserve to not have their time wasted with a horrible book. And by horrible, I don’t mean a story that just doesn’t resonate with the reader. For example, if a reader enjoys adult historical romance but picks up a young adult dystopian fantasy, he/she may not be too thrilled with the selection. But that isn’t on the author. Even if the story is in the genre the reader prefers, it still may not click for some reason with him/her. That doesn’t make the story horrible. I’m speaking of a story that is riddled with errors.

Okay, let’s attack the elephant running amuck the room head-on before we even get there. No one is demanding perfection. It would be sweet to have it, but no one is perfect. So, let’s debunk that now and circle back to it in a minute.

Writing is difficult. Writing professionally is a discipline and craft. If a painter is hired to paint the walls blue, the ceiling pink, and the trim yellow, I’m willing to bet the owners are going to be less than happy to see blue paint dripped on their baseboards or yellow on their ceilings. They are going to complain and say the painters did a terrible job. They aren’t likely to say, “Oh, well, it’s okay. They are new and are learning.” No, they are going to want the issue corrected or their money refunded. And in this situation, most people would agree with the homeowner.

Writing is an author’s work. It is their job to provide a quality service to the reader. The excuse that an author is new or professional editing is expensive is no excuse.

So, here we are again. “But Genevive, I’ve seen professionally edited books with mistakes.” Okay, stop with the gaslighting. Yes, I said it. Now, let me say this again for the people in the back who did not hear the first time. No one is perfect. I’m sure this post has mistakes. Again, not perfect. Professionally edited books have mistakes—some more than others. Yes, mistakes happen. Let me without sin cast the first stone. Traditionally edited books have mistakes. That’s not the point. That argument serves to divert focus from the issue of poorly edited or not-edited books. Poor professionally edited books do not get a pass, but that is a different topic. We’re talking about books that are intentionally and purposely put into the universe with no attempt to professionally edit. This is like selling a used car without disclosing it has been wrecked. That’s why now there are websites like Car Facts to provide hidden information that prevents buyers from making informed consents when purchasing. How many people after buying a faulty product return it? Books are a product.

The difference between books and many other products is that reading them takes time. Not only can they be a financial investment, but they also are a time investment, and time isn’t something a person can get back. If I only have an hour to read, I don’t want that hour to be filled with garbage. And no, I did not just call all non-professionally edited books garbage. That is another gaslight. Stop it. Some authors are extremely crafted in editing, especially when the amount of material editing is small. No one ever said an author can’t do a good job editing his/her own work. It’s difficult because often when an author knows what the text is supposed to say or mean, his/her brain automatically fills it in and they don’t see the error. Even with A.I. and other writing software, mistakes get through because a human eye is required. Again, nothing is perfect, and nothing is claiming to be. We live in an imperfect world. That being said, doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t strive for perfection. We may not obtain it, but we should at least attempt to get as close to it as possible.

So, here’s the problem with not professional editing, the attempt to get as close as possible to perfection isn’t there. Sure, self-editing is a step in the right direction, but usually, it isn’t enough. It needs to go further when a manuscript is put out there as professional.

Here’s another argument: The claim that professional editing is needed is made by those who can afford it and is an attempt to police and suppress writers who can’t and… (here’s the big one) … professionally edited authors are only concerned with how it affects their sales. This argument is only fair to a certain extent. If a customer eats at a chain restaurant (let’s call it Little Johnny B’s) in Augusta, Georgia, and gets food poisoning, he/she may think it’s restricted to specific Little Johnny B’s in that location. But if he/she eats at Little Johnny B’s in San Diego, New Orleans, Detroit, Seattle, Boston, and Orlando and gets food poisoning each time, he/she is probably going to generalize that the problem with the food is the entire chain. So, when he/she sees Little Johnny B’s in Houston, he/she likely will pass on eating there. And it could be that the restaurant in Houston has never had an incident of food poisoning. What one does can affect an entire community. Ever asked about a particular business and been told that it’s located in a “bad part of town.” Every business located in that vicinity is going to be affected to some degree by this. But let’s ignore the bigger picture for a moment.

When a writer puts out a work that is poorly edited, readers are going to remember, and many will elect not to read that writer again. I’ve already stated it once here, but I’ll state it again. Writing is hard. Many authors aren’t fortunate enough to make a living by writing and working a full-time job. It is difficult (but not impossible) for new writers to become noticed. They are competing will well-established and celebrity authors. Also, there are so many other forms of entertainment that many people shy away from reading. A recent study indicated that due to people being exposed to so much short-form media content they now struggle to maintain attention to read novels. Does that hurt the writing community overall? Sure. But it also makes it harder for new authors to gain a following. It staunches their writing careers. Consider this.

When hiring, many businesses ask for a resume or have potential employees complete an application. Most employees will want to see the reference. Now, if the employer calls the references listed and the response is negative about the employee, how many employers are going to hire? Sure, some will, but I’m willing to bet a lot more won’t. Many writers become popular based on what readers and critics are saying. If it’s negative (or worse, not talk), it’s not favorable for the writer. Of course, there are always exceptions to this. Some authors become super popular due to the negative exposure they receive. There’s a saying that there’s no such thing as bad press or any press is good press. However, it has been seen where negative press has killed or greatly staunched people’s careers. It’s a roll of the dice when it comes to negative press, and is that a gamble that new writers want to take? Is it one that they can afford to take?

Listen, a writer can make any choices about his/her work that he wants to. There is no law that says a writer must be professionally edited If a writer opts against professional editing, that is that writer’s prerogative. However, it is pure gaslighting when persons who argue on the side of professional editing are told to keep quiet and that they are gatekeeping. That simply isn’t true. There are legitimate concerns.

I want to end on a positive note. There are affordable editors out there and affordable ways one can have his/her work professionally edited. Some editors work on a sliding scale. Some will accept installments or agree to an exchange of services. Some new editors will do it for free to build their client list. There’s nothing that says a WIP has to be edited all at once. A writer can have chapters edited as they can afford them. There are writing critique groups where members who are professionals or have areas of expertise offer to help. There are writing seminars and conferences where editors may edit a few pages for free. Retired English and literary professors may be able to help. Or the writer can delay publishing until he/she can afford a professional editor. There are options.

As a writer, I support other writers. It’s never my goal to dissuade anyone from following their dreams. I’m in the trenches, too, and I know the struggle of writers. Each person has a different path and journey. This post wasn’t written to bash, shame, or hurt anyone’s feelings. It simply was to voice a point of view. People are welcome to disagree. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. There’s no dictatorship or mind control here. But to dismiss the concerns as unfounded and gatekeeping is unfair and gaslighting.

And that’s all I got. Was this post helpful? Do you think you’ll ever visit? Have you visited there? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. If you like this post, please click the like button and share. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read.

Giddy up and let’s ride!

Demon Rodeo is available now on Amazon. For video book trailers, visit my TikTok page. The full blurb is on my Instagram and Amazon.

Demon Rodeo is the first book in the Chasing the Buckle series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a friends-to-lovers romance set in the rodeo world. These are not your typical cowboys. It’s a widely diverse cast of characters and a mashup of genres that aren’t always seen together. If you’re looking for a palate cleanser, this may be a book for you.

Order

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Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

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Out of the Penalty Box (book #1) One minute in the box or a lifetime out. Defending the Net (book #2) Crossing the line could cost the game. Ice Gladiators (book #3) When the gloves come off, the games begin. Penalty Kill (book #4) Let the pucker begin. Future Goals (book #5) The future lies between a puck and a net.

About the Author:

Hi, I’m Genevive, and I am a contemporary sports romance author. My home is in South Louisiana. If you like snark and giggles with a touch of steamy Cajun and Creole on the side, I may have your poison in my stash of books. Drop by the bayou and have a look around. The pirogues are always waiting for new visitors.